Mitsubishi Corporation, Narita International Airport Corporation, Japan Airport Terminal Co. and JALUX have established a joint venture with the Government of Mongolia regarding the New Ulaanbaatar International Airport (NUBIA).
NUBIA has entered a 15-year concession agreement with the National Development Agency of Mongolia concerning the operation of the new airport, which is expected to open in the first half of 2020 upon completion of pre-operation work and relocation from the existing airport.
Demand for air transportation in Mongolia is rising, with growth centering on the capital, Ulaanbaatar. In 2018, the number of passengers utilizing the existing airport reached 1.42 million, up 14% from the previous year.
While the new airport is approximately 50km (30 miles) south of Ulaanbaatar city, its new location enables aircraft to take off and land from both ends of the runway, unlike the existing airport, which is hampered by mountains and the associated weather conditions.
The new airport has been realized through an ODA (Official Development Assistance) loan provided by the Government of Japan to the Government of Mongolia.